Samoan Rugby
With 10 minutes to go in the local championship match,
Tagatauli walked off the pitch unaided asking to be replaced after claiming to
be feeling unwell. He then collapsed on the side-line and was rushed to the
Samoan National Hospital in which he died Thursday morning after spending four
days in the High Dependency Unit fighting for his life.
It’s believed that the “popular” Vaimoso player also
suffered a cardiac arrest on the side lines whilst falling in and out of
consciousness too. In a statement issued by Vaimoso Rugby Club, team manager
Tauiliili Polito said:
“The result of the x-rays showed that there was internal bleeding on the right side of the brain, and the doctors said that it was lucky we were able to get him to the hospital on time.”
Tauiliili continued:
“This is a very sad loss for the
Vaimoso Rugby Club. We have been by the side of the family, especially his wife
since the incident on Saturday, offering our support and giving some money to
help with expenses.”
Following the shock news of Tagatauli premature
death, Samoa’s Rugby Union Chief Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea’i labelled the
forwards death as a “wakeup call” to the whole of Samoan rugby. He said:
“The
game has become faster and more physical over the last 10 years or so, the
contacts are more intense. Our thoughts and prayers are with Faiva’s wife
Seutatia, and their son as well as their family at Fagamalo at this time. We
also express our condolences to the Vaimoso Rugby Club who have lost a popular
team-mate.”
The death of such a young player has shown the sobering reality of the dangers of rugby, and the Samoan’s tragic death is the fifth to be recorded in rugby union since May last year after four French rugby players also sadly died.
